Picture display device, and setting modification method and setting modification program therefor

ABSTRACT

A picture display apparatus able to display content includes a network interface that can communicate with a portable terminal via a first network and acquire the content via a second network, and further includes a controller and a display capable of displaying the content and a content list of the content capable of being acquired via the second network. The content list settings information and operator information are stored in a storage in association with each other. When the controller determines that operator information acquired from the portable terminal is not operator information related to an operator stored in the storage, but instead is operator information regarding a new operator, the controller performs a control that enables processing to newly store operator information about the new operator in the storage without displaying, on the display, a content list based on content list settings information corresponding to operator information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technique for changing settings in apicture display device.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a picture display device such as a television device enablesa user thereof to adjust the picture quality such as brightness,contrast, and tint, in accordance with the user's preference. However,when the user tries to adjust the picture quality of the picture displaydevice, the user has to manually change respective setting values whileconfirming a picture displayed on the picture display device, andtherefore time and labor are required. As a method for reducing thistime and labor, there is a technique described in the Patent Literature1 as shown below.

The following Patent Literature 1 describes a technique that “in a statewhere a picture quality adjustment screen showing N sample images havingdifferent picture quality parameters is displayed on the display unit,where N is an integer equal to or larger than 3, when two sample imagesare selected, the picture quality adjustment screen is changed to show Nor less than N sample images having picture quality parameter valuesbetween the values of the two sample images; and in a state where thepicture quality adjustment screen showing N or less than N sample imagesis displayed on the display unit, when one sample image is selected, thevalue of the picture quality parameter of the image displayed on thedisplay unit is set to the value of the selected sample image.” By thistechnique, it is possible to easily set the picture quality inaccordance with the selected sample image.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2007-147828

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In a case where a picture display device is a television device placedin the living room, for example, it is considered that the user is notlimited, and a plurality of users share the picture display device. In acase there are a plurality of users and the preference of the settingssuch as the picture quality is different between the users, each userhas to choose either to use the picture display device while acceptingthe settings that do not match the preference thereof or to change thesettings of the picture quality or the like every time that user usesthe picture display device. Thus, usability is not good.

In the aforementioned situation, it is desirable that the picturedisplay device identifies each user and automatically changes itssettings in accordance with the identified user. However, PatentLiterature 1 described above does not consider the aforementionedproblem. Moreover, also in a case where the picture display device has afunction of recording digital broadcast programs or the like anddisplays a list or table of recorded programs, for example, the picturedisplay device can have improved usability by being configured toidentify the respective users and automatically set a manner ofdisplaying the content corresponding to the identified user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a picture displaydevice having improved usability even in a case the picture displaydevice is shared by a plurality of users, considering the aforementionedproblems.

Solution to Problem

As a solution of the aforementioned problems, according to the presentinvention, a picture display device, a setting modification methodtherefor, and a setting modification program therefor recited in theclaims may be used, for example.

In an example, a picture display device may be configured to include: anindividual information storage unit which stores information related toa settings change applied to the picture display device and informationrelated to an operator instructing the settings change to the picturedisplay device as individual settings information and operatorinformation, respectively, so that they are associated with each other;an operator identification unit which identifies an operator operatingthe picture display device; an operator confirmation unit which confirmswhether or not information of the operator operating the picture displaydevice identified by the operator identification unit coincides with theoperator information stored in the individual information storage unit;and a control unit which, in a case where as a result of a confirmationprocess in the operator confirmation unit, the information on theoperator operating the picture display device, identified by theoperator identification unit, coincides with the operator informationstored in the individual information storage unit, reads out theindividual settings information stored in the individual informationstorage unit in association with the operator information and appliesthe settings change based on the individual settings information thusread out to the picture display device.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

By using the technique of the present invention, a picture displaydevice having improved usability can be provided even in a case thepicture display device is shared by a plurality of users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a picture display device according to anexample.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an operator identification processaccording to an example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an operator identification processaccording to an example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an operator identification processaccording to an example.

FIG. 5 is a screen diagram explaining an OSD massage for clearly showingan operator according to an example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram explaining an operator identificationprocess according to an example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram explaining an operator identificationprocess according to an example.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal accordingto an example.

FIG. 9 is a screen diagram explaining an OSD massage for clearly showingan operator according to an example.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram explaining an operator identificationprocess according to an example.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a remote controller according to anexample.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram explaining a settings change processperformed in accordance with an operator identified in the operatoridentification process, according to an example.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart explaining the settings change process performedin accordance with the operator identified in the operatoridentification process, according to an example.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are flowcharts explaining a process of updatingindividual settings and a process of storing new operator information,respectively, according to an example.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram explaining a settings menu structure ofthe picture display device according to an example.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram explaining individual settings related todisplaying recorded contents according to an example.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram explaining settings related to a displaylayout according to an example.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below,using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a picture display device according to thisexample. The picture display device 100 includes a main control unit101, a system bus 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a broadcast receiver unit110, a display unit 121, a display processing unit 122, a speaker 123,an audio processing unit 124, a storage unit 130, a video input unit141, an operator identification unit 142, an audio input unit 143, anexternal interface 150, and an operation unit 160.

The picture display device 100 may be a television device with arecording function which includes therein a function of recording andreproducing a digital broadcast program, or may be a television devicesupporting recording which does not include therein the recording andreproducing function but enables a digital broadcast program to berecorded or reproduced on/from a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) device or thelike externally connected thereto. Moreover, the picture display device100 may be an internet supporting television device capable ofdisplaying a picture content accumulated in a content server connectedto a network such as the Internet. The picture display device 100 may bea tablet terminal, a desktop/portable PC (Person Computer), a gameplayer or the like which has a digital broadcast receiving function anda function of recording and reproducing a received digital broadcastprogram. The picture display device 100 may be a tablet terminal, adesktop/portable PC, or a game player, for example, which is capable ofdisplaying a picture content accumulated in a content server connectedto a network such as the Internet. Furthermore, the picture displaydevice 100 may be a combination of a recording and reproducing apparatussuch as a HDD recorder or a BD (Blu-ray Disc) recorder and a monitordevice. The picture display device 100 may be a combination of a STB(Set Top Box) capable of receiving a digital broadcast and/or receivinga picture content accumulated in a content server connected to a networksuch as the Internet, and a monitor device. The picture display device100 may be a display device with a touch panel capable of displaying andoutputting a figure and a character input by means of the touch panel.

The main control unit 101 is a microprocessor unit which controls theentire picture display device 100 in accordance with a predeterminedprogram. The system bus 102 is a data communication path for datatransmission and reception between the main control unit 101 and therespective portions in the picture display device 100. The ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 103 is a memory in which a basic operation program of thepicture display device 100 such as an operating system or apredetermined application program is stored, and a rewritable ROM suchas EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or a flash ROM isused, for example. It is possible to upgrade the version of the basicoperation program or expand features thereof by updating the programstored in the ROM 103. The ROM 103 may use a portion of a storage areain the storage unit 130 described later, instead of being configuredindependently, as shown in FIG. 1 . The RAM (Random Access Memory) 104is a working area during execution of the basic operation program oreach application. The ROM 103 and the RAM 104 may be integrallyconfigured with the main control unit 101.

The broadcast receiver unit 110 receives a digital broadcast wave andperforms signal processing such as decoding. Especially, a tuner 111extracts a signal of a channel selected by a user who operates thepicture display device 100 from a broadcast wave received by an antennawhich is not shown, and demodulates a TS (Transport Stream) signal. Asplitter 112 splits the TS signal into video data, audio data, andassociated information data each of which is packetized, and outputs thevideo data to a video decoder 113, the audio data to an audio decoder114, and the associated information data to an information decoder 115.The video decoder 113 decodes the video data output from the splitter112, and outputs a video signal to the display processing unit 122. Theaudio decoder 114 decodes the audio data output from the splitter 112,and outputs an audio signal to the audio processing unit 124. Theinformation decoder 115 processes the associated information data outputfrom the splitter 112, and especially acquires SI (Service Information)information including program information such as a program name, agenre, and start and end date and time of broadcasting of each program,for example.

The display unit 121 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel,for example, and provides the video signal processed by the displayprocessing unit 122 to the user of the picture display device 100. Thedisplay processing unit 122 also performs format conversion, a processof superimposing a menu or other OSD (On Screen Display) signal, or thelike for the video signal input thereto, as necessary. The speaker 123provides the audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 124 tothe user of the picture display device 100.

The storage unit 130 is used for storing values of various operationsettings of the picture display device 100, information of the user ofthe picture display device 100, and various applications operated in thepicture display device 100, and is also used for recording a digitalbroadcast program, for example. The storage 130 is formed by anindividual information storage area 131 for storing operator informationof the picture display device 100, information related to individualsettings for each operator, and the like, a program storage area 132 forrecording a digital broadcast program therein and storing informationrelated to the recording of the digital broadcast program (e.g.,reservation information), and a storage area for other information 133.

All or some of the functions of the ROM 103 can be replaced with aportion of the other information storage area 133. The picture displaydevice 100 can expand its feature by downloading a new application froman application server connected to a network such as the Internet. Inthis case, the downloaded new application is stored in the otherinformation storage area 133. By expansion of the new application storedin the other information storage area 133 onto the RAM 104 and executionof it, the picture display device 100 can implement a number of types ofnew functions.

The storage unit 130 needs to hold stored information even in a statewhere no power is supplied to the picture display device 100. Therefore,a device such as a flash ROM, SSD (Solid State Drive), or HDD is used.

The video input unit 141 is a camera which inputs image data ofsurroundings and/or an object by converting light input through a lensinto an electric signal. The video input unit 141 may be included in thepicture display device 100 to be integrally configured therewith, or aseparate camera may be connected to a USB interface described later. Theoperator identification unit 142 performs a process of identifying aperson who operates the picture display device 100 or a terminal deviceused for operating the picture display device 100 (hereinafter, theperson and the terminal device are collectively referred to as anoperator) (hereinafter, referred to as an operator identificationprocess). The details of the operator identification process will bedescribed later. Although the operator identification unit 142 is shownas being independently configured in FIG. 1 , the main control unit 101may work to implement the same function by using the RAM 104 as aworking area. The audio input unit 143 is a microphone, for example, andconverts the voice of the user or the like into audio data and inputsthe audio data. The audio input unit 143 may be included in the picturedisplay device 100 to be integrally configured therewith, or a separatemicrophone may be connected to the USB interface described later.

The external interface 150 is a group of interfaces for expanding thefunctions of the picture display device 100, and is formed by a LAN(Local Area Network) interface 151, an audio input/output unit 152, avideo input/output unit 153, a USB (Universal Serial Bass) interface 154in this example. The LAN interface 151 connects to a network such as theInternet by wired or wireless communication to transmit and receiveinformation. The LAN interface 151 includes an encoding circuit and adecoding circuit, for example. The audio input/output unit 152 and thevideo input/output unit 153 input an audio/video signal from an externalaudio/video output device and output an audio/video signal to anexternal audio/video input device. In a case where the picture displaydevice 100 is a HDD recorder, a BD recorder, or a STB, a monitor devicemay be connected to the audio input/output unit 152 and the videoinput/output unit 153. The USB interface 154 performs connection with aUSB device such as a keyboard or a memory card, for example. In a casewhere the picture display device 100 does not have arecording/reproducing function therein but records a digital broadcastprogram onto an HDD device or the like externally connected, the HDDdevice or the like may be connected to the USB interface 154.

The operation unit 160 is an instruction input unit which inputs anoperation instruction to the picture display device 100, and is formedby an operation key 161 in which button switches are arranged and aremote control receiver unit 162 which receives an infrared ray signalfrom a remote controller in this example. In place of the operation key161, the picture display device 100 may be operated by means of a touchpanel superimposed on the display unit 121. Both may be used together.The picture display device 100 may be operated by means of a keyboard orthe like connected to the USB interface 154. The picture display device100 may be operated by means of a portable information terminal, a PC,or the like connected via the LAN interface 151 to the network.

The exemplary configuration of the picture display device 100 shown inFIG. 1 also includes a component that is not essential to the presentinvention, e.g., the external interface 150. Without that component, theadvantages of the present invention are not spoiled. Moreover, acomponent such as a communication unit enabling a mobile telephonenetwork communication, a mail transmission/reception unit, anacceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, an earth magnetic field sensor, aGPS (Global Positioning System) receiver unit may be further included.

The picture display device 100 of this example has a function ofperforming the operator identification process by being controlled bythe operator identification unit 142 and automatically changing itssettings in accordance with the identified operator.

An exemplary case is described below in which the aforementionedoperator identification process is performed by inputting an image of aperson who operates the picture display device 100.

For example, in a case where a person A (400 a) is an operator whooperates the picture display device 100 by means of a remote controller200, as shown in FIG. 2 , first the video input unit 141 inputs an imageof the person A (400 a) who is the operator of the picture displaydevice 100. Moreover, the operator identification unit 142 extracts faceinformation (operator information) from the input image and performs aface recognition process in which the extracted face information iscompared with face information stored by a user of the picture displaydevice 100 in advance in the individual information storage area 131. Ina case where the person A (400 a) has already registered its faceinformation in the individual information storage area 131, the operatoridentification unit 142 can identify the operator of the picture displaydevice 100 as the person A (400 a) by the aforementioned facerecognition process.

Alternatively, the video input unit 141 inputs an image of the person A(400 a) who is the operator of the picture display device 100, and theoperator identification unit 142 extracts gesture information (operatorinformation) of the person A (400 a) from the input image and performs agesture recognition process in which the extracted gesture informationis compared with gesture information stored by a user of the picturedisplay device 100 in advance in the individual information storage area131. In a case where the person A (400 a) has already registered itsgesture information in the individual information storage area 131, theoperator identification unit 142 can identify the operator of thepicture display device 100 as the person A (400 a) by the gesturerecognition process.

In a case of performing the operator identification process using thegesture recognition process, the picture display device 100 may beconfigured to, after a predetermined operation, recognize that thegesture for the operator identification process has been performed. Morespecifically, in a case where the remote controller 200 has a “gestureinput” button, for example, the gesture recognition for the operatoridentification process may be performed after the “gesture input” buttonis pressed. Alternatively, after the operator speaks a predeterminedkeyword (e.g., “start the gesture input”) and the picture display device100 recognizes that keyword, the operator may perform the gesture forthe operator identification process and the picture display device 100may recognize it. In this manner, the recognition efficiency in thegesture recognition process can be improved.

In a case where there are more than one person (a person A (400 a), aperson B (400 b), and a person C (400 c)) watching the picture displaydevice 100, as shown in FIG. 3 , the video input unit 141 inputs imagesof those people and detects infrared light output from a remote controltransmitter unit 240 of the remote controller 200. By thisconfiguration, the operator identification unit 142 can identify theperson A (400 a) holding the remote controller 200 as the operator ofthe picture display device 100 by extracting face images of those peopleand the positions of the bodies connected to those face images from theinput images and analyzing the positional relationship between the faceimages and the body positions thus extracted and the detected infraredlight. Furthermore, the operator identification unit 142 can identifythe operator of the picture display device 100 as the person A (400 a)by performing a face recognition process or a gesture recognitionprocess for the identified person A (400 a).

For the face recognition process and the gesture recognition process,known techniques may be used. Therefore, the detailed descriptionthereof is omitted.

An exemplary case is described below in which the operatoridentification process is performed by inputting a voice uttered from aperson who operates the picture display device 100.

For example, in a case where a person A (400 a) is an operator whooperates the picture display device 100 by means of the remotecontroller 200, as shown in FIG. 4 , the audio input unit 143 inputs thevoice uttered by the person A (400 a) who is the operator of the picturedisplay device 100. Moreover, the operator identification unit 142extracts predetermined keyword information (operator information) fromthe input voice, and performs a speech recognition process in which theextracted keyword information is compared with keyword information thata user of the picture display device 100 has stored in advance in theindividual information storage area 131. In a case where the person A(400 a) has already registered the keyword information determined by theperson A in the individual information storage area 131, the operatoridentification unit 142 can identify the operator of the picture displaydevice 100 as the person A (400 a) by the speech recognition process.

The keyword information may be a phrase such as “I will operate”,“operation start”, or “start-up”, or a name of a person or a pet, or aword such as “mountain” or “river”. Moreover, in the speech recognitionprocess, the voice quality or the like does not necessarily coincide ifthe keyword coincides.

Alternatively, the audio input unit 143 inputs the voice uttered by theperson A (400 a) who is the operator of the picture display device 100,and the operator identification unit 142 extracts voiceprint information(operator information) by performing voiceprint analysis for the inputvoice and carries out a voiceprint analysis process in which theextracted voiceprint information is compared with voiceprint informationthat a user of the picture display device 100 has stored in advance inthe individual information storage area 131. In a case where the personA (400 a) has already registered the voiceprint information thereof inthe individual information storage area 131, the operator identificationunit 142 can identify the operator of the picture display device 100 asthe person A (400 a) by the aforementioned voiceprint analysis process.

The voice used for the voiceprint analysis process may be a given phraseor word, but when a phrase or a word that is determined in advance(e.g., “I will operate”) is used, the efficiency of analysis in thevoiceprint analysis process can be improved.

For the speech recognition process and the voiceprint analysis process,known techniques may be used. Therefore, the detailed descriptionthereof is omitted.

In a case where the person operating the picture display device 100 is aperson who has registered information thereof in advance in theindividual information storage area 131, when that person has performedany operation for the picture display device 100, an OSD messageindicating that person is operating the picture display device 100 maybe displayed.

For example, in a case where a person A (400 a) who has stored itsoperator information in advance in the individual information storagearea 131 is identified as the operator of the picture display device 100by the operator identification process, when the person A (400 a) hasperformed any operation for the picture display device 100, the picturedisplay device 100 displays, on the display unit 121, an OSD message121-1 indicating that the picture display device 100 is being operatedby the person A (400 a). By doing this, it is possible to clarify who isthe person operating the picture display device 100, especially in acase where there are more than one person watching the picture displaydevice 100.

A timing at which the picture display device 100 displays the OSDmessage 121-1 may be every time the operation of the picture displaydevice 100 is performed, or only a timing at which a predeterminedoperation (e.g., an operation related to a change of the settings of thepicture display device 100) is performed.

The operator identification process may be performed only at apredetermined timing (e.g., when the device 100 is turned on or resumesfrom its sleep state). Alternatively, the operator identificationprocess may be performed every time the picture display device 100receives a control command from the remote controller 200 or regularlyat a predetermined time interval.

Moreover, a technique has been common these days in which a dedicatedapplication is operated so that a portable information terminal such asa smartphone or a tablet device is used as a terminal device foroperating a television device for digital broadcast reception.

An exemplary case of a case is described below in which that techniqueis applied and the aforementioned operator identification process isperformed by inputting a sound output from a portable informationterminal (a terminal device for operating the picture display device100) owned by a person who operates the picture display device 100.

For example, in a case where a portable information terminal 300 has afunction of transmitting an infrared ray signal for operating thepicture display device 100 in place of the remote controller 200 and aperson A (400 a) is an operator who operates the picture display device100 by means of the portable information terminal 300, first the audioinput unit 143 inputs a sound that the person A (400 a) who is theoperator of the picture display device 100 caused the portableinformation terminal 300 owned thereby to generate. Then, the operatoridentification unit 142 performs digital sampling of the input sound toconvert it into sound data (operator information), and performs a soundsource analysis process in which that sound data is compared with sounddata that a user of the picture display device 100 has stored in advancein the individual information storage area 131. In a case where theperson A (400 a) has already registered the sound data chosen by theperson A in the individual information storage area 131, the operatoridentification unit 142 can identify the operator of the picture displaydevice 100 as the person A (400 a) by the aforementioned sound sourceanalysis process.

As the sound data, a cry of an animal, a sound generated by musicalinstrument performance, a popular song or the like may be used.Moreover, as for the sound source analysis process, a known techniquemay be used. Therefore, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

An example in a case where the operator identification process isperformed by communication with a terminal device such as a portableinformation device, which operates the picture display device 100 isdescribed below.

For example, in a case where a portable information terminal 300 ownedby a person A (400 a) is the operator of the picture display device 100,as shown in FIG. 7 , the portable information terminal device 300transmits a control command and operator information to the picturedisplay device 100 via a router device 360 in accordance with anoperation by the person A (400 a). On the other hand, in the picturedisplay device 100, the main control unit 101 interprets and executesthe transmitted control command, and simultaneously the operatoridentification unit 142 performs an operator identification processusing the transmitted operator information.

More specifically, in a case where the portable information terminal 300of this example has a structure shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8 ,the person A (400 a) operates an operation unit 340 of the portableinformation terminal 300 (for which communication with the picturedisplay device 100 has been established by an authentication processwith the picture display device 100) in which an application for picturedisplay device control is running, so that first a main control unit 301converts that operation into a control command for the picture displaydevice 100. Then, the main control unit 301 transmits operatorinformation for making the portable information terminal 300 beidentified as the operator of the picture display device 100 in theoperator identification process in the operator identification unit 142,from a LAN communication unit 352 by superimposing it on the controlcommand.

In the picture display device 100, the LAN interface 151 receives thecontrol command on which the operator information is superimposed,transmitted via the router device 360, and the main control unit 101interprets and executes the received control command. At the same time,the operator identification unit 142 extracts the operator informationfrom the received control command on which the operator information issuperimposed, and performs a process of comparing the extracted operatorinformation with operator information stored in advance in theindividual information storage area 131. In a case where the operatorinformation of the portable information terminal 300 has alreadyregistered in the individual information storage area 131, the operatoridentification unit 142 can identify the operator of the picture displaydevice 100 as the portable information terminal 300 by theaforementioned comparison process.

The operator information may be data of the portable informationterminal 300 such as a product name or a model number, or data such as aproduct number or a serial number thereof. In a case where the portableinformation terminal 300 has a telephone communication function, theoperator information may be a telephone number used in the telephonecommunication function or other unique number data associated with thattelephone number. The operator information may be a keyword, a passcode, or an owner number which is arbitrarily determined by the owner ofthe portable information terminal 300, for example. Moreover, theoperator information may be stored in the ROM 303, the RAM 304, or thestorage unit 310, or may be stored in a memory card (not shown)connected to a memory interface 341. Furthermore, owner data stored in adata server or the like on the Internet in association with thetelephone number or the unique number may be downloaded to be used asthe operator information.

In addition, it is desirable that the portable information terminal 300has a user authentication function for authenticating the owner of theportable information terminal 300 and makes the operator informationeffective (available for transmission) only when the authentication ofthe owner of the portable information terminal 300 by the userauthentication function is successful.

The process of authenticating the owner of the portable informationterminal 300 may be performed by inputting a password or a pass code tothe operation unit 340. Alternatively, the authentication process may becarried out by face recognition by inputting a face image to a videoinput unit 322 or other image recognition. The authentication processmay be carried out by speech recognition by an audio input to an audioinput unit 324, voiceprint analysis, or a sound source analysis byinputting a sound generated by musical instrument performance, a popularsong or the like. Alternatively, the authentication process may beperformed by fingerprint identification by inputting a fingerprint to afingerprint input unit which is not shown. The authentication processmay be performed by biometric authentication which identifies a palmprint, an iris, veins or the like. The authentication process may beperformed by touch authentication in which predetermined positions on atouch panel arranged on the operation unit 340 are touched in apredetermined order.

By providing the portable information terminal 300 with the userauthentication function in this manner, it is possible to preventsomeone different from the owner of the portable information terminal300 from using the operator information of the portable informationterminal 300.

In a case where the portable information terminal 300 is identified asthe operator of the picture display device 100 by the operatoridentification process, when an operation by the portable informationterminal 300 is performed for the picture display device 100, an OSDmessage 121-2 indicating the portable information terminal 300 isoperating the picture display device 100 may be displayed, as shown inFIG. 9 .

Moreover, by further storing information indicating that the owner ofthe portable information terminal 300 having the aforementioned operatorinformation is the person A (400 a) in the individual informationstorage area 131, the operator identification unit 142 can indirectlyidentify the person A (400 a) as the person using the portableinformation terminal 300 which is the operator of the picture displaydevice 100.

In this case, when the portable information terminal 300 is identifiedas the operator of the picture display device 100 by the operatoridentification process and an operation of the picture display device100 is performed by the portable information terminal 300, the OSDmessage 121-1 indicating that the person A (400 a) is operating thepicture display device 100 may be displayed.

A timing at which the picture display device 100 displays the OSDmessage 121-2 or the OSD message 121-1 may be every time the portableinformation terminal 300 has transmitted the control command to thepicture display device 100 in accordance with the operation by theperson A (400 a) or may be only a timing at which a predeterminedoperation (e.g., an operation related to a settings change of thepicture display device 100) has been carried out.

The operator identification process may be performed only at apredetermined timing (e.g., when the picture display device 100 isturned on, when the picture display device 100 resumes from its sleepingstate, or when communication between the picture display device 100 andthe portable information terminal 300 is established). Alternatively,the operator identification process may be performed every time thepicture display device 100 receives the control command from theportable information terminal 300 or may be performed regularly at apredetermined time interval. The operator identification process may beperformed by a request of transmission of the operator information fromthe picture display device 100 to the portable information terminal 300

Next, an exemplary case is described below in which the aforementionedoperator identification process is performed by storing operatorinformation in the remote controller 200 in advance.

For example, in a case where a person A (400 a) is the operator whooperates the picture display device 100 by using the remote controller200, as shown in FIG. 10 , the person A (400 a) stores operatorinformation for making the person A be identified in the remotecontroller 200 in advance. Moreover, the remote controller 200 transmitsa control command and the operator information to the picture displaydevice 100 in accordance with an operation by the person A (400 a). Onthe other hand, in the picture display device 100, the main control unit101 interprets and executes the transmitted control command, and theoperator identification process is carried out by the operatoridentification unit 142 by using the transmitted operator information.

An exemplary method for storing the operator information for making thepicture display device 100 identify the person A (400 a) in the remotecontroller 200 in advance is described below.

For example, in a case where the remote controller 200 of this exampleis configured as shown in the block diagram shown in FIG. 11 , theperson A (400 a) may input a predetermined access key (operatorinformation) which is determined and stored in advance by the person Ain the individual information storage area 131, from the operation unit220 of the remote controller 200 so that the access key is stored in theRAM 204. Alternatively, the person A (400 a) may bring the portableinformation terminal 300 owned thereby close to the remote controller200 to establish communication between a near field communication unit353 of the portable information terminal 300 and a near fieldcommunication unit 252 of the remote controller 200 so that the remotecontroller 200 reads out the operator information that the portableinformation terminal 300 has and stores it in the RAM 204.Alternatively, the person A (400 a) may connect a memory card 260 (or anitem similar to the memory card) in which predetermined identificationinformation (operator information) determined and stored by the person A(400 a) in advance in the individual information storage area 131 isrecorded to a memory interface 252 of the remote controller 200.

When the person A (400 a) operates the operation unit 220 of the remotecontroller 200 in which any of the aforementioned types of operatorinformation is stored by the aforementioned process, the main controlunit 201 superimposes the any of the aforementioned types of operatorinformation on a control command for controlling the picture displaydevice 100 and transmits it as an infrared ray signal from the remotecontrol transmitter unit 240.

In the picture display device 100, the control command with the operatorinformation superimposed thereon is received by the remote controlreceiver unit 162, and the main control unit 101 interprets and executesthe control command. At the same time, the operator identification unit142 extracts the any of the aforementioned operator information from thecontrol command with the operator information superimposed thereon, andcarries out a process of comparing the extracted operator informationwith the operator information stored in advance in the individualinformation storage area 131. In a case where the person A (400 a) hasregistered operator information for making the person A be identified inthe individual information storage area 131 in advance, the operatoridentification unit 142 can identify the operator of the picture displaydevice 100 as the portable information terminal 300 by that comparisonprocess.

In a case where a person different from the person A (400 a) uses theremote controller 200, that different person newly performs the processof storing operator information for making that different person beidentified in the remote controller 200. This enables the operatoridentification process to be carried out even in a case where more thanone person watch the picture display device 100 and share the remotecontroller 200, for example.

The aforementioned operator identification process may be performedevery time the picture display device 100 receives the control commandfrom the remote controller 200, or may be performed by regulartransmission of the operator information to the picture display device100 performed by the remote controller 200 at a predetermined timeinterval, independently of the operation by the person A (400 a).

The examples of the operator identification process are described above,using the drawings. The methods described in the aforementioned examplesmay be used in combination, instead of being used solely. The operatoridentification process may be performed by using a different method fromthe aforementioned examples. As a different method for the operatoridentification process, a biometric authentication process whichconfirms a fingerprint, a palm print, veins, an iris, or the like, andinputting a login password and the like are considered.

The picture display device 100 of this example further performs asettings change process of applying the individual settings for eachoperator in accordance with the operator identified by theaforementioned operator identification process. FIGS. 12 and 13 are adiagram and a flowchart for explaining the settings change processperformed by the picture display device 100 in accordance with theoperator identified by the operator identified process.

It is assumed that the picture display device 100 shown in FIG. 12stores, as operator information of an operator of the picture displaydevice 100 and individual settings for that operator, operatorinformation of a person A (400 a) and individual settings for the personA (400 a), operator information of a person B (400 b) and individualsettings for the person B (400 b), and operator information of a personC (400 c) and individual settings for the person C (400 c) to beassociated with each other in the individual information storage area131 in advance.

In this state, when the picture display device 100 is turned on by meansof a terminal device such as a remote controller or a portableinformation terminal (S101), the main control unit 101 of the picturedisplay device 100 performs a startup process such as initialization ofthe respective components, and at the same time the operatoridentification unit 142 performs an operator identification process(S102). In the operator identification process performed in S102, themethods described in the aforementioned examples may be used, forexample. In the operator identification process in S102, whenidentification of an operator is successful (S103) and it is confirmedthat the identified operator has been stored as the operator of thepicture display device 100 in advance (S104), i.e., when operatorinformation of a person operating the picture display device 100 or aterminal device used for operating the picture display device 100coincides with operator information stored in the individual informationstorage area 131, the main control unit 101 reads out the individualsettings for the operator thus identified from the individualinformation storage area 131 (S105) and applies the read individualsettings (S106).

For example, in a case where the person A (400 a) is identified as theoperator of the picture display device 100 by a series of processes fromS102 to S104, the main control unit 101 reads out the individualsettings for the person A (400 a) stored in association with theoperator information of the person A (400 a) in the individualinformation storage area 131 and applies it. Similarly, the main controlunit 101 reads out from the individual information storage area 131 andapplies the individual settings for the person B (400 b) in a case wherethe person B (400 b) is identified as the operator of the picturedisplay device 100, and reads out from the individual informationstorage area 131 and applies the individual settings for the person C(400 c) in a case where the person C (400 c) is identified.

On the other hand, in a case where identification of the operator isunsuccessful in a series of processes from S102 to S103, or a case whereidentification of the operator is successful in a series of processesfrom S102 to S104, but the operator information of the identifiedoperator is not confirmed as being stored in the individual informationstorage area 131 (e.g., a case where the person identified in theoperator identification process is a person D (400 d), or a case wherethe operator information of the identified terminal device is not storedin the individual information storage area 131), the main control unit101 reads out standard settings provided in the picture display device100 from the ROM 103 (S115) and applies the read standard settings(S106).

When the picture display device 100 of this example is turned off andwhen the operator is changed during operation, the picture displaydevice 100 performs a process of updating the individual settings foreach operator stored in the individual information storage area 131 (ina case where the process of S105 is selected during execution of theflowchart shown in FIG. 13 ) or a process of newly storing operatorinformation of a new operator and individual settings for the newoperator in the individual information storage area 131 (in a case wherethe process of S115 is selected during execution of the flowchart shownin FIG. 13 ) as necessary. FIG. 14 is a flowchart explaining the processof updating the individual settings for each operator stored in theindividual information storage area 131 (FIG. 14(A)) and the process ofnewly storing the operator information of the new operator and theindividual settings for the new operator in the individual informationsetting area 131 (FIG. 14(B)), to be performed when the picture displaydevice 100 is turned off.

When a control command is transmitted from the terminal device such asthe remote controller or the portable information terminal while thepicture display device 100 is waiting for the control command, thepicture display device 100 receives the control command at the remotecontrol receiver unit 162 or the LAN interface 151 (S201). Then, themain control unit 101 confirms whether or not the received controlcommand is a power-off command (S202). In a case where the controlcommand received in S201 is not the power-off command, the main controlunit 101 executes the received control command and then the picturedisplay device 100 returns to the state for waiting the control command.

On the other hand, in a case where the control command received in S201is the power-off command, the main control unit 101 reads out andapplies the individual settings for each operator or the standardsettings provided in the picture display device 100 and thereafterconfirms whether or not the settings of the picture display device 100are changed by the operator (S203). When it is determined that thesettings are changed in S203, the main control unit 101 executes theprocess of updating the individual settings for each operator stored inthe individual information storage area 131 (S204: in a case where theprocess of reading out and applying the individual settings for eachoperator is performed) or the process of newly storing the operatorinformation of the new operator and the individual settings for the newoperator in the individual information storage area 131 (S214: in a casewhere the process of reading out and applying the standard settingsprovided in the picture display device 100 is performed). Moreover,after execution of the process of S204 or S214, the main control unit101 executes a termination process for turning the picture displaydevice 100 off (S206).

In a case where it is determined that the settings are not changed inS203, the picture display device 100 may execute the termination processfor turning it off without executing the process of S204 or S214.

When the operator of the picture display device 100 is changed duringoperation, first, the processes similar to S203 and S204 in FIG. 14(A)(in a case where the process of reading out and applying the individualsettings for each operator is performed) or the processes similar toS203 and S214 in FIG. 14(B) (in a case where the process of reading outand applying the standard settings provided in the picture displaydevice 100 is performed) are performed. Then, in accordance with a newlyidentified operator, the processes similar to S105 and S106 in FIG. 13(in a case where the operator information of the newly identifiedoperator is stored in the individual information storage area 131 inadvance) or the processes similar to S115 and S106 in FIG. 13 (in a casewhere the operator information of the newly identified operator is notstored in the individual information storage area 131) may be performed.

By the above processes, the picture display device 100 of this examplecan perform the settings change process of automatically applying theindividual settings for the operator identified in the aforementionedoperator identification process in accordance with that operator.

The aforementioned example is described, assuming that the individualsettings for each operator are stored in the individual informationstorage area 131 of the picture display device 100. However, in adifferent example, the individual settings for each operator may bestored in the storage unit 310 of the portable information terminal 300.

In this case, when in a series of processes from S102 to S104identification of the operator is successful and the operatorinformation of the operator thus identified is confirmed as being storedin the individual information storage area 131, the main control unit101 may apply the individual settings for the identified operator whichare acquired from the storage unit 310 of the portable informationterminal 300 by communication via the LAN interface 151.

In a case where the portable information terminal 300 is operated tochange the settings of the picture display device 100, the main controlunit 301 can recognize the content of the settings change performed inthe picture display device 100. Thus, in a case where the individualsettings for each operator are stored in the storage unit 310 of theportable information terminal 300, it is possible to perform the processof updating the individual settings for each operator or the process ofnewly storing the individual settings for the new operator withoutacquiring information related to the content of the settings changeperformed in the picture display device 100 by communication with thepicture display device 100.

In a case where the picture display device 100 is a display device witha touch panel, such as an electronic blackboard device with a touchpanel, the settings change of the display device with the touch panelcan be performed by an operation of the touch panel, not by an operationof the portable information terminal 300. In this case, in the processof updating the individual settings for each operator or the process ofnewly storing the individual settings for the new operator, the maincontrol unit 301 acquires information related to the content of thesettings change, performed in the display device with the touch panel,by communication with the display device with the touch panel in theprocess of S204 or S214 in FIG. 14 .

An item which the picture display device 100 of this example can set inthe individual settings for the operator applied in accordance with theoperator identified in the operator identification process is describedbelow, referring to examples.

In a case where the picture display device 100 is a television devicefor digital broadcast reception, items such as the picture quality, thesound quality, and the operation mode when a digital broadcast programis watched are usually changeable in accordance with the preference.Thus, also in the picture display device 100 of this example, settingsrelated to the picture quality such as brightness, a black level, atint, and color darkness of the picture, settings related to the soundquality such as loudness in each sound range, settings related to theoperation of the device such as an operation mode of a frame rateconversion circuit included therein, brightness of a backlight, andon/off of a power saving mode, may be stored as the individual settingsfor each operator in the individual information storage area 131, forexample.

By doing this, it is possible for the picture display device 100 of thisexample to identify an operator by the aforementioned operatoridentification process and read out and apply the individual settingsfor the identified operator, such as the picture quality settings, thesound quality settings, and the operation settings of each device,stored in advance in the individual information storage area 131 inaccordance with the identified operator. Thus, a person operating thepicture display device 100 or a person operating a terminal device usedfor operating the picture display device 100 can apply and use thesettings of the picture quality, the sound quality and the like, whichare set to correspond to the preference thereof to the picture displaydevice 100 without being affected by the settings change performed byanother person.

However, it is not necessary to store all the items which can be set byan instruction of the operator of the picture display device 100 as theindividual settings for each operator in the individual informationstorage area 131. For example, in a case where the settings menustructure of the picture display device 100 of this example is thatshown in FIG. 15 , it is desirable that for respective items in the“picture settings” and the “sound settings” the contents of the settingsset in accordance with the preference of each operator are stored as theindividual settings in the individual information storage area 131. Onthe other hand, for items of “receiving settings”, items of“communication settings”, or the like which are lower order than“initial settings”, only one set of setting contents may be stored ascommon settings of the picture display device 100 in the otherinformation storage area 133 or the like, instead of storing those asthe individual settings for each operator in the individual informationstorage area 131.

That is, in this example, the settings in the items of the “receivingsettings” are those related to an area in which the picture displaydevice 100 is used, those related to broadcasting stations available inthat area, and the like, but are not usually items for which thesettings are changed in accordance with the preference of each operator.Moreover, the settings in the items of the “communication settings” aresettings related to an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a subnet mask, adefault gateway of the LAN interface 151 of the picture display device100 and the settings related to a DNS (Domain Name System) server, forexample, and do not have to be changed frequently after being set onceimmediately after installation of the picture display device.

Therefore, by not storing the contents of the settings related to theitems of the “receiving settings” and the items of the “communicationsettings” as the individual settings for each operator in the individualinformation storage area 131, it is possible to reduce a requiredcapacity of the individual information storage area 131.

In a case where the picture display device 100 is a television deviceincluding therein a function of recording/reproducing a digitalbroadcast program, the device 100 usually has a function of displayingrecorded digital broadcast programs in a list. Thus, also in the picturedisplay device 100 of this example, settings of an initially displayedposition when the list of the recorded programs are displayed, forexample, may be stored as the individual settings for each operator inthe individual information storage area 131.

For example, it is assumed that a folder structure in the list of therecorded programs displayed by the picture display device 100 of thisexample has a structure shown in FIG. 16 and three people including aperson A, a person B, and a person C use the picture display device 100of this example and each of three records a digital broadcast program.In this case, when the picture display device 100 of this exampleidentifies the person A as the operator by the aforementioned operatoridentification process, the individual settings for the person A areread out from the individual information storage area 131 and areapplied, thereby the settings are changed so that the initiallydisplayed position is set to a “recorded programs for person A” folderin a lower layer of a “user” folder in the list display of the recordedprograms. Similarly, when the person B is identified as the operator bythe aforementioned operator identification process, the initiallydisplayed position is set to a “recorded programs for person B” folderin a lower layer of the “user” folder. When the operator information ofthe operator identified by the aforementioned operator identificationprocess is not stored in the individual information storage area 131,the standard settings are read out from the ROM 103 and are applied,thereby the settings are changed so that the initially displayedposition is set to an “all” folder in the list display of the recordedprograms. Alternatively, the list display may not be allowed.

By doing this, in a case where a person operating the picture displaydevice 100 of this example or a person operating a terminal device usedfor operating the picture display device 100 requests the list displayof the recorded programs to the picture display device 100, it ispossible to quickly display the folder in which the programs recorded bythat person are stored, and to easily confirm the contents therein.

In a case where the picture display device 100 is a television devicehaving a function of connecting to a network such as the Internet andfunctions of performing a search in the network and executing anotherapplication, it is possible to simultaneously display a digitalbroadcast program picture window 121-3, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator)for internet access list window 121-4, an icon list window 121-5 foricons of applications executable in the picture display device 100, forexample, on the display unit 121, as shown in FIG. 17 . Moreover, in thepicture display device 100 of this example, respective displayedpositions of the digital broadcast program picture window 121-3, the URLfor internet access list window 121-4, and the application icon listwindow 121-5 can be arranged freely, and a layout such as the displayedposition of each window may be stored as the individual settings foreach operator in the individual information storage area 131.

Moreover, each operator may set an initially displayed channel in thedigital broadcast program picture window 121-3, a preferred URL in theURL for internet access list window 121-4, and an icon of a frequentlyused application in the application icon list window 121-5, for example,in accordance with the preference thereof, and those may be stored asthe individual settings for each operator in the individual informationstorage area 131.

By doing this, it is possible for the picture display device 100 of thisexample to identify an operator by the aforementioned operatoridentification process and to read out and apply the individual settingsfor the identified operator such as the displayed positions of thewindows, the initially displayed channel, the preferred URL, and theicon of the frequently used application, stored in advance in theindividual information storage area 131, in accordance with theidentified operator. Thus, a person operating the picture display device100 or a person operating a terminal device used for operating thepicture display device 100 can use the picture display device 100 with awindow layout, which is set to correspond to the preference thereof,without being affected by the settings change performed by anotherperson.

In a case where the picture display device 100 is a television devicewhich can display a picture content accumulated in a content serverconnected to a network such as the Internet, it is possible to downloadthe picture content from the content server and accumulate it or topurchase a paid picture content on the content server and view a videostream thereof. Moreover, it is desirable that not only the picturedisplay device 100 can display a number of picture contents on thecontent server in a list, but also the device 100 has a function ofdisplaying the downloaded picture contents only in a list or a functionof displaying the purchased picture contents only in a list. In thiscase, the picture display device 100 of this example may store the listof the picture contents downloaded by each operator or the list of thepicture contents purchased by each operator, for example, as theindividual settings for each operator in the individual informationstorage area 131.

By this, the picture display device 100 of this example identifies theoperator by the aforementioned operator identification process, therebythe list of the picture contents downloaded by the identified operatoror the list of the purchased picture contents can be read out from theindividual information storage area 131. Thus, when a person operatingthe picture display device 100 or a person operating a terminal deviceused for operating the picture display device 100 requests the picturedisplay device 100 to display the list of the downloaded picturecontents or the list of the purchased picture contents, it is possibleto extract and display the picture contents downloaded by that person orthe picture contents purchased by that person only, from among a largenumber of picture contents.

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described above.The structure implementing the techniques of the present invention isnot limited to the aforementioned examples. Moreover, a numerical value,a message text, and the like in the description and the drawings aremere examples, and the use of a different one does not damage theeffects of the present invention.

All or a portion of the aforementioned functions or the like of thepresent invention may be implemented by hardware, e.g., by beingdesigned by an integrated circuit. Moreover, a microprocessor or thelike may interpret and execute a program implementing each function orthe like, thereby all or a portion of the aforementioned functions orthe like of the present invention are implemented by software. Theaforementioned program may be stored in the ROM 103 or the otherinformation storage area 133 of the storage unit 130 of the picturedisplay device 100 in advance, or may be acquired from an applicationserver on the Internet via the LAN interface 151. The aforementionedprogram stored in a memory card may be acquired via the USB interface154.

As a control line or an information line in the drawings, the onerequired for the description is shown. All of control lines andinformation lines in a product are not necessarily shown. It can beconsidered that almost all components are actually connected with eachother.

Reference Signs List

-   -   100: picture display device    -   101: main control unit    -   102: system bus    -   103: ROM    -   104: RAM    -   110: broadcast receiver unit    -   111: tuner    -   112: splitter unit    -   113: video decoder    -   114: audio decoder    -   115: information decoder    -   121: display unit    -   122: display processing unit    -   123: speaker    -   124: audio processing unit    -   130: storage unit    -   131: individual information storage area    -   132: program storage area    -   133: other information storage area    -   141: video input unit    -   142: operator identification unit    -   143: audio input unit    -   150: external interface    -   151: LAN interface    -   152: audio input unit    -   153: video input/output unit    -   154: USB interface    -   160: operation unit    -   161: operation key    -   162: remote control receiver unit    -   200: remote controller    -   201: main control unit    -   202: system bus    -   203: ROM    -   204: RAM    -   210: display unit    -   220: operation unit    -   231: acceleration sensor    -   232: gyro sensor    -   240: remote control transmitter unit    -   251: near field communication unit    -   252: memory interface    -   260: memory card    -   300: portable information terminal    -   301: main control unit    -   302: system bus    -   303: ROM    -   304: RAM    -   310: storage unit    -   321: display unit    -   322: video input unit    -   323: speaker    -   324: audio input unit    -   331: acceleration sensor    -   332: gyro sensor    -   333: earth magnetic field sensor    -   334: GPS receiver unit    -   335: luminance sensor    -   340: operation unit    -   341: memory interface    -   351: mobile telephone network communication unit    -   352: LAN communication unit    -   353: near field communication unit    -   360: router device    -   370: WAN (Wide Area Network)

What is claimed:
 1. A picture display apparatus capable of displaying acontent, the picture display apparatus comprising: a network interfacethat can communicate with a portable terminal via a first network andacquire the content via a second network; a display capable ofdisplaying the content and displaying a content list of the contentcapable of being acquired via the second network; and a controller,wherein content list settings information related to the content listand operator information related to an operator of the picture displayapparatus are stored in a storage in association with each other,wherein information of a plurality of content lists are included in thecontent list settings information, wherein the controller communicateswith the portable terminal via the first network, acquires an operatorinformation from the portable terminal, and conducts operatorrecognition processing by using the acquired operator information andthe operator information stored in the storage, wherein, when thecontroller recognizes that the operator information acquired from theportable terminal is the operator information related to the operatorstored in the storage, the controller performs a first control whichcontrols the display to display a content list based on the content listsettings information associated with the operator information of therecognized operator, while when the controller determines that theoperator information acquired from the portable terminal is not theoperator information related to the operator stored in the storage, butis operator information regarding a new operator, the controllerperforms a second control that enables processing to newly storeoperator information about the new operator in the storage withoutdisplaying, on the display, the content list based on content listsettings information corresponding to the operator information.
 2. Thepicture display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the contentcapable of being acquired via the second network includes paid contenton a content server, which can be viewed via a video stream.
 3. Thepicture display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: in a case thatthe content list settings information for the content capable of beingacquired via the second network is changed, a storing process forstoring the changed content list settings information into the storageis performed before a termination process for turning the picturedisplay apparatus off.